System and method for accessing and analyzing previous generations of seismic data

Abstract

A system and method for uniquely identifying seismic data sets, wherein the system and method associate a unique seismic data set identifier with a seismic data set, wherein the unique seismic data set identifier identifies the seismic data set by being different from all other unique seismic data set identifiers associated with other seismic data sets. The unique seismic data set identifier for the seismic data set is published within a directory, thus allowing the seismic data set to be found within a computer system or network of systems by the unique seismic data set identifier that is associated with the seismic data set.

1 . A method for uniquely identifying seismic data sets, comprising the steps of: 
 associating a unique seismic data set identifier with a seismic data set, wherein the unique seismic data set identifier identifies the seismic data set by being different from all other unique seismic data set identifiers associated with other seismic data sets; and    publishing the unique seismic data set identifier for the seismic data set within a directory.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: associating with a child seismic data set both the unique seismic data set identifier associated with the seismic data set and a unique child seismic data set identifier that uniquely identifies the child seismic data set by being different from all other unique seismic data set identifiers associated with other seismic data sets, wherein the child seismic data set comprises data processed from the seismic data set.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the child seismic data set has associated with it all unique seismic data set identifiers associated with all ancestral seismic data sets from which the child seismic data set data is processed.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unique seismic data set identifier is created in response to at least one of an Internet Protocol address, a current time, or a hash code.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unique seismic data set identifier is created in response to an Internet Protocol address, a current time; and a hash code.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the unique seismic data set identifier for the seismic data set is further created in response to a host computer name.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of associating the unique seismic data set identifier with the seismic data set comprises the step of embedding the unique seismic data set identifier within the seismic data set.  
   
   
       8 . A system for uniquely identifying seismic data sets, comprising a processing system having one or more processing elements that are programmed or adapted to: 
 associate a unique seismic data set identifier with a seismic data set, wherein the unique seismic data set identifier identifies the seismic data set by being different from all other unique seismic data set identifiers associated with other seismic data sets; and    publish the unique seismic data set identifier for the seismic data set within a directory.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processing elements are programmed or adapted to associate with a child seismic data set both the unique seismic data set identifier associated with the seismic data set and a unique child seismic data set identifier that uniquely identifies the child seismic data set by being different from all other unique seismic data set identifiers associated with other seisnic data sets, wherein the child seismic data set comprises data processed from the seismic data set.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more processing elements are programmed or adapted to associate with a child seismic data set all unique seismic data set identifiers associated with all ancestral seismic data sets from which the child seismic data set data is processed.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the unique seismic data set identifier is created in response to at least one of an Internet Protocol address, a current time, or a hash code.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the unique seismic data set identifier is created in response to an Internet Protocol address, a current time, and a hash code.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the unique seismic data set identifier for the seismic data set is further created in response to a host computer name.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the unique seismic data set identifier is associated with the seismic data set by embedding the unique seismic data set identifier within the seismic data set.  
   
   
       15 . A computer program product for uniquely identifying seismic data sets, comprising a computer-usable medium carrying thereon: 
 a means for associating a unique seismic data set identifier with a seismic data set, wherein the unique seismic data set identifier identifies the seismic data set by being different from all other unique seismic data set identifiers associated with other seismic data sets; and    a publishing means, wherein the publishing means publishes the unique seismic data set identifier for the seismic data set within a directory.    
   
   
       16 . A system for uniquely identifying seismic data sets, comprising a processing system having one or more processing elements that are programmed or adapted to: 
 embed a unique seismic data set identifier within a seismic data set, wherein the unique seismic data set identifier identifies the seismic data set by being different from all other unique seismic data set identifiers associated with other seismic data sets, the unique seismic data identifier being created by the following steps: 
 a) retrieving a name of a local host computer where the data set is located;  
 b) retrieving an Internet Protocol address of the local host computer in which the data set is located;  
 c) retrieving a current time, in milliseconds, that the unique identifier creation function is initiated;  
 d) retrieving a hash code that relates to the data set;  
 e) combining the Internet Protocol address, the current time and hash code in order to form a unique seismic data set identifier; and  
   publish the unique seismic data set identifier for the seismic data set within a directory.