Efficient Field-Computer File Transfer Methods for Suboptimum Conditions

This paper describes a project to upgrade the file-transmission capabilities of a system using modem-linked PC's to acquire production data in remote oilfields and subsequently transfer these data to an area production office for further processing. The method initially specified for accomplishing this task failed repeatedly under adverse conditions. After the modems and file-transfer software were replaced, communications became much more reliable, and the time required to transfer files was reduced by orders of magnitude, resulting in a corresponding reduction in telecommunications costs. The technology described is applicable to any computer-based system doing file transfers, particularly in areas with suboptimum telephone networks.