Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02638335 2008-07-21
MOBILE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This relates to the technical field of mobile autonomous communication
systems.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Due to topography or distance from an existing cell tower many remote
areas have
poor or no cellular reception. On oil rigs, both drilling and service types,
communication
equipment is often mounted directly on a rig. This creates hazards for
personnel mounting
the equipment and increases power demands for the communication equipment from
the
rig's available electricity. Moreover, in many oil and gas remote sites the
majority of the
available electricity may be needed for the operation of monitoring equipment,
such as RTUs
and SCADA shacks, and not available to possible communication towers.
[0003] Current communications systems are often hazardous, expensive and
difficult to
set up. During emergency situations, such as civil uprisings, earthquakes,
fires or floods, or
other natural disasters that compromise power and communication systems, for
example due
to the loss of a local station or tower, it may not be practical to set up a
traditional
communication system. Tradition communication systems may require more time or
resources to set up than is available during emergencies. For example,
traditional
communication systems may require set-up equipment such as a picker truck,
external
electricity, and a crane to set up.
[0004] Other existing communication services, such as satellite phones are
expensive to
use and may be unreliable due to changing satellite orbits or failing
satellites.
SUMMARY
[0005] In an embodiment there is provided a mobile autonomous communications
system, comprising a mast and a mobile communications signal booster. A power
controller
is connected via a cable to power the mobile communications signal booster. A
first antenna
is connected to the mobile communications signal booster to transfer cellular
communications signals between the mobile communications signal booster and a
cell site of
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a cellular telephone system provider. The mobile communications signal booster
is
connected to communicate with a local terminal. The mobile communications
signal booster
and the power controller are installed in one or more weatherproof enclosures.
[0006] These and other aspects of the device and method are set out in the
claims, which
are incorporated here by reference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0007] Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in
which like
reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which:
[0008] Fig. I is a side view of a mobile autonomous communication system with
a solar
panel;
[0009] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a booster, solar controller and a battery in a
weatherproof
enclosure.
[0010] Fig. 3 is a side view of a mobile autonomous communications system; and
[0011] Fig. 4 is a plan view of a signal booster and power controller in a
weatherproof
enclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described here
without departing from what is covered by the claims.
[0013] In Figs. I and 2, there is shown a mobile autonomous communication
system 10,
having a mast 12, a solar panel 14, and a weatherproof enclosure 24,
containing a mobile
communications signal booster 16 (Fig 2), an electric storage system 18 and a
power
controller 20. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the power controller 20 is a
solar panel
controller. As shown in Fig. 2, the solar panel controller 20 is connected by
cable 38 to
control the solar panel 14 and by cable 28 to electrical storage system 18.
The solar panel
controller 20 is also connected by cable 40 to power the mobile communications
signal
booster 16. An antenna 22 (Fig. 1) is connected to the mobile communications
signal booster
16 by cable 34 to transfer cellular communications signals between the mobile
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communications signal booster 16 and a cell site of a cellular telephone
system provider 46
(Fig. 1).
[0014] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the solar panel 14 is connected to
the mast 12.
In other embodiments the solar panel 14 may be on the ground or on a separate
support
structure depending on the availability of sunlight at different locations.
The weatherproof
enclosure 24 may also be placed on a separate structure or on the ground. The
mobile
communications signal booster 16 (Fig. 2) and the power controller 20 may lie
in separate
weatherproof enclosures. The electrical storage system 18 may lie in the same
weatherproof
enclosure as the signal booster 16 or the power controller 20 or may be lie in
a completely
separate weatherproof container. The mast 12 may be a pneumatic telescoping
mast. For
example, the mast 12 may be made from aluminum or carbon fiber in ten-foot
sections.
Depending on the application, other types of masts may be used and in some
embodiments
the mast 12 may be a non-telescoping mast. A telescoping mast may be used for
ease of
transportation of the mobile autonomous communications system 10 and may be
mounted on
a trailer deck.
[0015] In some embodiments the mobile communications signal booster 16 may
have a
power rating of 3 Watts or less. In other embodiments, the booster may have a
much higher
power rating, such as up to 100 Watts or more. The mast may have a
stabilization control,
such as guy wires. As shown in Fig. 1, the stabilization control includes an
aluminum collar
42, supports 32 and anchors 44. In some embodiments, the supports 32 may be,
for example,
tether straps or braided steel wire. Additionally, the mast 12 may be
partially inserted into
the ground 26 for additional stability as shown in Fig. 1. In other
embodiments, the mast 12
may be attached to the side or roof of a building. The antenna 22 may be
unidirectional.
Additional antennas, such as antenna 30 may be connected to the mobile
communications
signal booster 16, for example by cable 36. The antenna 30 transmits the
cellular signal to a
local terminal 48 in the area. The local terminal 48 may be, for example, a
cellular phone or
a computer with air card cellular internet service. The antenna 30 may boost
the signal for
ground coverage. In one embodiment, the solar panel 14 may have a rating in
the 10 - 160
Watt range. The size of the solar panel and the strength of the battery may
depend on the
number of calls or the number of internet sessions required at a site per day.
In some
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embodiments, a larger solar panel and battery may be used where a large number
of calls per
day are anticipated. In some embodiments, the mobile communications signal
booster 16
may connect directly to a local terminal 48, such as a cell phone.
[0016] The mobile autonomous communication system 10 may be applicable for
cell
phones, internet and other communication systems. Research suggests that in
some
embodiments the mobile autonomous communications system may establish a
useable link
to the nearest cell tower at distances of more than 30 kilometers. In an
embodiment, the
mobile autonomous communication system 10 provides more than a 35-meter radius
of
service surrounding the mobile autonomous communication system 10 for cell or
internet
service. The radius of service may vary depending on the vegetation and
topology of the area
surrounding the system 10 and may be reduced in areas with dense trees or
shrubs or with
numerous buildings.
[0017] The mobile autonomous communications system 10 may be used to improve
service and maintenance of remote oilfield sites by providing improved
cellular and internet
coverage. The system 10 enables field personnel to relay and receive
information from
offices and other field personnel pertaining to the complex monitoring sites.
If a specialist or
coaching for a particular repair or procedure is needed, information may be
relayed using the
system 10 without requiring the specialist to travel to the remote site from a
head office or a
specialist office.
[0018] By providing communication equipment that is not mounted directly on a
rig,
safety at the rig site is increased. The system 10 may be assembled by
connecting all the
equipment to the mast 12 before the mast 12 is raised. The system 10 may be
powered
independently from the rig site. The mast 12 and the associated equipment are
raised after
the equipment is secured, therefore reducing the hazard of rig climbing to
personnel. The
independent power source for the system 10 means that power is not drained
from available
electricity at remote sites that may be required for other uses, such as for
monitoring
equipment. The system 10 operates without requiring the use of electrical
outlets, which are
often of limited availability in oilfield applications. In actual operation,
the system 10 may
only be used several times during the year, for example during emergency
situations where
outside communication is necessary. The system 10 may be used in any weather
conditions
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or light conditions, such as during the night, and the electrical storage
system 18 may hold
charge for hours even when the system 10 is in use. In emergency situations,
traditional
electricity may not be available due to blackout conditions and therefore
having an
independent energy source may be highly advantageous. The system 10 provides
continuous
communication with renewable battery power.
[0019] In an emergency, even if the system 10 is not permanently installed,
the system 10
enables the restoration of communications by accessing a tower outside the
normal range
from the emergency zone within the short amount of time required to erect the
system 10. In
some embodiments, two people can assemble the system 10 in under an hour. The
location
and extent of coverage of the system 10 may vary due to the topography of the
area.
[0020] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the power controller 20 may be connected to
a power
source 54, such as, for example, a generator or standard electrical power
source rather than a
solar panel power source, depending on the application. A generator may be
used in areas
where there are equipment and personnel readily available, such as for example
forest fire
equipment and forest fire personnel. The power controller 20 may also use
standard electrical
power in areas where standard electrical power is available and unlimited, for
example at
remote farms or campgrounds. At these locations the power controller 20 may
include an
inverter to convert the power from AC to DC. The power source 54 may also be
an electric
cigarette lighter in a vehicle. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the mobile
communications signal booster 16 may be connected directly to a local terminal
48 through a
cable 50. A cable 52 connects the power controller 20 to the power source 54.
A video
camera 56 may be installed onto the mast 12, which may be connected to the
local terminal
48 to transmit data to an offsite location. The video camera 56 may be used to
provide
surveillance or to provide images of the worksite for personnel who may be
communicating
with onsite workers through the system 10. The video camera 56 may receive
power from
the power controller 20.
[0021] Applications for the system 10 include, for example, commercial
applications,
such as businesses in forestry, fishing, mining or seismic sites, where
personnel are working
far from established communities or head offices, recreation sites, such as
remote fishing
lodges or campgrounds with poor communication access, and internationally,
where only
CA 02638335 2008-07-21
cities have cellular access and where boosting may increase the coverage to a
larger
surrounding area, for example, in Africa where few landlines may be available.
[0022] In other embodiments, the mast 12 (Fig. 1) may be a pole or a tower
depending on
the terrain, the weather conditions and the desired length of time the system
is in operation,.
In one embodiment, the mast may be divided into 10 foot sections and may be
joined
together by threaded cuffs or by nuts, bolts, washers and spring washers. In
some
embodiments, the mast may be partially sunk into the ground or may be anchored
to a piling,
or may be partially sunk into the ground and anchored. The mast may be made
from any of a
number of materials, such as, for example, aluminum, steel, composite or
alloy.
[0023] In some embodiments, the antenna 22 (Fig. 1) may be a Yagi, Log or an
Omni
directional antenna. In some embodiments, the antenna 30 may be a Yagi or an
Omni
directional antenna. The antennas may use a co-axial cable to transmit and
receive the
signals. In other embodiments, other wiring or wireless links may be used. In
an
embodiment, the solar panel 14 may be a 10 - 80 Watt, or multiples thereof,
solar panel. The
system 10 may have more than one solar panel. In some embodiments, the
electrical storage
system 18 may be a sealed lead acid 12-volt 4.5-100 ampere-hour battery. In
some
embodiments, the solar panel controller 20 may be a 12-volt 6-amp solar
controller. The
solar panel controller 20 may have higher amperage depending on the number of
solar
panels. The cable 38 may be a 3/12 wire. In some embodiments, the mobile
communications
signal booster 16 may be a 3-Watt booster.
[0024] In some embodiments, the weatherproof enclosure 24 may be metal and the
enclosure design may be different depending on the particular needs of the
user. Internal
connections may vary depending the component shapes and sizes. In some
embodiments,
water resistant grease may be applied to all connections throughout the system
and the
antennas and solar panel may affix to the mast or weatherproof enclosure using
metal
components. Internal component ratings may be different depending on the
particular needs
of the user.
[0025] In some embodiments, the system 10 may be mounted on a vehicle or
trailer for
added mobility.
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[0026] In the claims, the word "comprising" is used in its inclusive sense and
does not
exclude other elements being present. The indefinite article "a" before a
claim feature does
not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the
individual features
described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue
only of being
described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by
the claims.
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