Patent US5650981A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5650981A
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US
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Multi-vessel timing synchronization method and device
Assignee: PETROLEUM GEO-SERVICE (US) Inc
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Filing: 1993-01-06
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Granted: 1997-07-22
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Expires: 2013-01-06
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates generally to a method and system for synchronizing the timing of events between and among vessels using a common timing reference.
Inventors
- 👤 Nils Erik Jacobsen
- 👤 Anno Sauer
- 👤 Ian McMillan
- 👤 Rolf Ronningen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:38
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G7/00; G04G7/02; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/24; G01V1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A process for synchronizing a first event on a first marine seismic vessel system and a second event on a second marine seismic vessel system, comprising: assigning a first instant in time for the occurrence of the first event; assigning a second instant in time for the occurrence of the second event; sending a time-event signal from the first marine vessel system to the second marine vessel system, wherein the time-event signal includes data identifying the event and the first instant; providing an acknowledge signal from the second marine vessel system upon receipt of the time-event signal; repeating said sending until receipt of the acknowledge signal at the first marine vessel; determining on the first marine vessel system the first instant from a time reference to cause the first event to occur on the first marine vessel system at the first instant; and determining on the second marine vessel system the second instant from the time reference to cause the second event to occur on the second marine vessel system at the second instant, wherein the time reference used for said determining the first instant is the same time reference used for said determining the second instant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A process for synchronizing a first event on a first marine seismic vessel system and a second event on a second marine seismic vessel system, comprising: assigning a first instant in time for the occurrence of the first event; assigning a second instant in time for the occurrence of the second event; sending a time-event signal from the first marine vessel system to the second marine vessel system, wherein the time-event signal includes data identifying the event and the first instant; providing an acknowledge signal from the second marine vessel system upon receipt of the time-event signal; repeating said sending until receipt of the acknowledge signal at the first marine vessel; determining on the first marine vessel system the first instant from a time reference to cause the first event to occur on the first marine vessel system at the first instant; and determining on the second marine vessel system the second instant from the time reference to cause the second event to occur on the second marine vessel system at the second instant, wherein the time reference used for said determining the first instant is the same time reference used for said determining the second instant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
164 words
A process for synchronizing a first event on a first marine seismic vessel and a second event on a second marine seismic vessel, wherein the events are to occur at a defined interval in time, comprising: receiving on the first vessel an event input signal; receiving on the first vessel a reference clock signal from a reference clock source; reading the time from the reference clock signal upon said receiving an input event signal; determining an absolute time at which the first event should occur based on the event input signal and the reference clock signal; sending, on the first vessel and before the absolute time, a time-tagged first event signal, wherein the time-tagged first event signal includes information identifying the first event and the absolute time; receiving, on the second vessel and before the absolute time, the time-tagged first event signal; and generating a command to cause the first event to occur at the absolute time designated by the time-tagged first event signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
A process for synchronizing a first event on a first marine seismic vessel and a second event on a second marine seismic vessel, wherein the events are to occur at a defined interval in time, comprising: receiving on the first vessel an event input signal; receiving on the first vessel a reference clock signal from a reference clock source; reading the time from the reference clock signal upon said receiving an input event signal; determining an absolute time at which the first event should occur based on the event input signal and the reference clock signal; sending, on the first vessel and before the absolute time, a time-tagged first event signal, wherein the time-tagged first event signal includes information identifying the first event and the absolute time; receiving, on the second vessel and before the absolute time, the time-tagged first event signal; and generating a command to cause the first event to occur at the absolute time designated by the time-tagged first event signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as in claim 2 further comprising using the same reference clock signal for said generating the time-tagged first event signal and for said generating the command to cause the first event to occur.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as in claim 2 further comprising generating, on the first vessel, a command to cause the second event to occur before the absolute time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process as in claim 4 further comprising using the same absolute time reference for said generating the command to cause the second event to occur before the absolute time and for generating the command to cause the first event to occur at the absolute time designated by the time-tagged first event signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as in claim 2 wherein said receiving an event input signal comprises receiving a navigational closure signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 2 wherein said receiving of the reference clock signal comprises receiving a reference clock signal from a clock.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as in claim 2 wherein said receiving of the reference clock signal comprises: receiving a tick signal from a tick source; and incrementing a counter responsive to the tick source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as in claim 2 wherein said reading the time from the reference clock signal comprises: reading the count of the counter upon said receiving of an input event signal; and assigning a time to a particular level of the count of the counter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process as in claim 8 wherein said tick source comprises an oscillator, and wherein said receiving of the reference clock signal further comprises: comparing the period of the tick signal to the period of a reference tick signal; and adjusting the period of the tick signal to correspond to the period of the reference tick signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as in claim 10 wherein said reading the time from the reference clock signal comprises: reading the count of the counter upon said receiving of an input event signal; and assigning a time to a particular level of the count of the counter.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for synchronizing a first event on a first marine seismic vessel system and a second event on a second marine seismic vessel system, comprising: means for assigning a first instant in time for the occurrence of the first event; means for assigning a second instant in time for the occurrence of the second event; means for sending a time-event signal to the second marine vessel system, wherein the time-event signal includes data identifying the event and the first instant; means for providing an acknowledge signal from the second marine vessel system upon receipt of the time-event signal; means for repeating said sending until receipt of the acknowledge signal at the first marine vessel, means for determining the first instant from a time reference to cause the first event to occur at the first instant; and means for determining the second instant from the time reference to cause the second event to occur at the second instant, wherein the time reference used for said determining the first instant is the same time reference used for determining the second instant.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for synchronizing a first event on a first marine seismic vessel system and a second event on a second marine seismic vessel system, comprising: means for assigning a first instant in time for the occurrence of the first event; means for assigning a second instant in time for the occurrence of the second event; means for sending a time-event signal to the second marine vessel system, wherein the time-event signal includes data identifying the event and the first instant; means for providing an acknowledge signal from the second marine vessel system upon receipt of the time-event signal; means for repeating said sending until receipt of the acknowledge signal at the first marine vessel, means for determining the first instant from a time reference to cause the first event to occur at the first instant; and means for determining the second instant from the time reference to cause the second event to occur at the second instant, wherein the time reference used for said determining the first instant is the same time reference used for determining the second instant.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for synchronizing a first event on a first marine seismic vessel and a second event on a second marine seismic vessel, wherein the events are to occur at a defined interval in time, comprising: means for receiving on the first vessel an event input signal; means for receiving on the first vessel a reference clock signal from a reference clock source; means for reading the time from the reference clock signal upon said receiving of an input event signal; means for determining an absolute time at which the first event should occur based on the event input signal and the reference clock signal; means for sending, on the first vessel and before the absolute time, a time-tagged first event signal, wherein the time-tagged first event signal includes information identifying the first event and the absolute time; means for receiving, on the second vessel and before the absolute time, the time-tagged first event signal; and means for generating a command to cause the first event to occur at the absolute time designated by the time-tagged first event signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for synchronizing a first event on a first marine seismic vessel and a second event on a second marine seismic vessel, wherein the events are to occur at a defined interval in time, comprising: means for receiving on the first vessel an event input signal; means for receiving on the first vessel a reference clock signal from a reference clock source; means for reading the time from the reference clock signal upon said receiving of an input event signal; means for determining an absolute time at which the first event should occur based on the event input signal and the reference clock signal; means for sending, on the first vessel and before the absolute time, a time-tagged first event signal, wherein the time-tagged first event signal includes information identifying the first event and the absolute time; means for receiving, on the second vessel and before the absolute time, the time-tagged first event signal; and means for generating a command to cause the first event to occur at the absolute time designated by the time-tagged first event signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as in claim 13 further comprising means for using said reference clock signal for said generating the time-tagged first event signal and for said generating the command to cause the first event to occur.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 13 further comprising means for generating, on the first vessel, a command to cause the second event to occur before the absolute time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as in claim 15 further comprising means for using said reference clock signal for said generating the command to cause the second event to occur before the absolute time and for generating the command to cause the first event to occur at the absolute time designated by the time-tagged first event signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as in claim 13 wherein said means for receiving of the reference clock signal comprises means for receiving a reference clock signal from a clock.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as in claim 13 wherein said means for receiving of the reference clock signal comprises: means for receiving a tick signal from a tick source; and means for incrementing a counter responsive to the tick source.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as in claim 18 wherein said means for reading the time from the reference clock signal comprises: means for reading the count of the counter upon said receiving of an input event signal; and means for assigning a time to a particular level of the count of the counter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as in claim 18 wherein said tick source comprises an oscillator, and wherein said means for receiving of the reference clock signal further comprises: means for comparing the period of the tick signal to the period of a reference tick signal; and means for adjusting the period of the tick signal to correspond to the period of the reference tick signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as in claim 20 wherein said means for reading the time from the reference clock signal comprises: means for reading the count of the counter upon said receiving of an input event signal; and means for assigning a time to a particular level of the count of the counter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-21 | 2001-01-20 | 2001-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-21 | 2005-01-20 | 2005-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-21 | 2009-01-20 | 2009-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |